Rear spring spacer - spring sliding off?

[eatSleepWoof]

A few months back I did the spacer lift and had a local indy install 30mm spring spacers in the rear.

The spacer is a fair bit larger than the spring, so the spring (on the passenger side) sits nicely in the middle. The spacer also has a small "lip" around the circumference, presumably to minimize risk of the spring sliding off.

Yesterday I was under the car, applying fluid film, and noticed that the driver's side spring is right on the edge of the spacer.

This is the passenger side. Note the lip around the spring, and somewhat-even spacing between the lip and the spring:

And this is the driver side. Note the lip being directly in contact with, or possibly even being under the spring:

On the other side of this spring is a very large (probably around 1") gap between the spring and the lip, due to the spring not being centered on the spacer.

So.

Is this a problem? Do I have a risk of having the spring slide off the spacer? I'd imagine the bump stop would not allow for that to happen, but this still seems weird.

If this IS a problem, what is the easiest way of addressing it? I only have two days before I have to drive out of town (5hrs each way) for a few days. No time to go to mechanics, and really, no time for much of anything. I do have spring compressors on hand. Should I compress the spring and try to re-centre it, then uncompress?

 

[Sandroad]

I agree that neither the spacer nor the spring can come off with the bump stop there and I don't see potential damage possibility IF your upcoming trip will not fully articulate the suspension. When you get back, have the indy shop recenter the spacer so the spring rides correctly. Good catch and I would fix it eventually.

 

[eatSleepWoof]

I agree that neither the spacer nor the spring can come off with the bump stop there and I don't see potential damage possibility IF your upcoming trip will not fully articulate the suspension. When you get back, have the indy shop recenter the spacer so the spring rides correctly. Good catch and I would fix it eventually.

Trip is all highways and city streets. No chance of full articulation.

Any chance I can recentre the spacer myself by simply compressing the spring and without actually taking anything off?

 

[eatSleepWoof]

Also worth noting that the bump stops had to be slightly trimmed in order to fit through the spacer. I wonder if the shop may have trimmed this one unevenly, causing the spacer to sit as it does?

 

[Sandroad]

Trip is all highways and city streets. No chance of full articulation.

Any chance I can recentre the spacer myself by simply compressing the spring and without actually taking anything off?

I don’t know if you could fit a tool in there to compress the spring enough and if it were me I would not try. Spring compressors are dangerous and things might not line up right anyway with the small clearance you would have. Much safer to lift the LC and let axle droop free up the spring and then compress only if needed, IMHO.

 

[eatSleepWoof]

I don’t know if you could fit a tool in there to compress the spring enough and if it were me I would not try. Spring compressors are dangerous and things might not line up right anyway with the small clearance you would have. Much safer to lift the LC and let axle droop free up the spring and then compress only if needed, IMHO.

Understood. Thanks.

 

[Ali FJ80]

The lx springs dont have the tension that the normal lc springs have as the AHC carries some of the load so they compress quite easily. I would jack it up and use the spring compressor to recenter it. Should not take you more than a few minutes. All the issues with spring compressors are generally due to improper use or bad equipment. Have been using them correctly for 20+ years with no issues.

 

[eatSleepWoof]

The lx springs dont have the tension that the normal lc springs have as the AHC carries some of the load so they compress quite easily. I would jack it up and use the spring compressor to recenter it. Should not take you more than a few minutes. All the issues with spring compressors are generally due to improper use or bad equipment. Have been using them correctly for 20+ years with no issues.

How/where, specifically, should I jack it up? Is the idea to extend/open the spring as much as possible (to ease the load) before compressing with the spring compressors?

 

[Ali FJ80]

Exactly. First hit you AHC off button to turn it off. Then jack up that side from the frame somewhere in that area till the tire is hanging. That should release most of the pressure on the spring. You may be able to manipulate it by hand and force it into place at that point but if needed slightly compress it so you can realign it. No need to fully compress/remove anything.

 

[eatSleepWoof]

Exactly. First hit you AHC off button to turn it off. Then jack up that side from the frame somewhere in that area till the tire is hanging. That should release most of the pressure on the spring. You may be able to manipulate it by hand and force it into place at that point but if needed slightly compress it so you can realign it. No need to fully compress/remove anything.

Thanks for the details, will try it out tomorrow eve.